By now most medical cannabis activists are aware that several medical marijuana dispensaries in Washington state were raided Wednesday. While the federal government continues to raid medical cannabis providers on a routine basis, the 18 raids were such a rare show of force that major news outlets have picked up on the story, with NBC reporting that a DEA agent added insult to injury by boasting to a raided provider that“[t]hings are going to be hell for you.” These raids constitute one of President Obama’s single biggest days of paramilitary action in the federal crackdown on medical cannabis patients and providers, but what did this massive offensive cost taxpayers?

According to ASA’s What’s the Cost? report, the investigations and raids may have cost taxpayers $12,327,732. While the raids themselves cost just over $300,000, the lengthy investigations leading up to the raids cost taxpayers a staggering $12,014,334 according toASA’s calculations. This amount far exceeds the average of $180,000 that the federal government spends fighting its war on medical cannabis. In 2012 alone, the DEA used 4% of its budget on medical cannabis suppression.

This is not the first time the first time the feds have launched a massive offensive against Washington state patients and providers. In 2011, 14 Seattle-area dispensaries were raided in similar fashion. Earlier in that year, the US Attorney for Washington issued a threat letter to the Governor Christine Gregoire which helped bully her into line item vetoing the dispensary portions of a bill that passed both the Washington House and Senate.

Even with the federal government going to such great lengths to prevent the successful passage and implementation of medical cannabis laws, an ever-increasing number of states have chosen to adopt them. With support for safe and legal access to medical cannabis now at 85%, nobody knows how much longer the federal government will continue to waste precious resources to crack down on medical cannabis, but without Congressional action to stop the madness, there is unfortunately no end in sight. ASA urges everyone who cares about safe and legal access to medical cannabis to join the Peace for Patients campaign and make sure their members of Congress take action to end the federal crackdown.

About Johnny Green

Johnny Green is a marijuana activist from Oregon. He has a Bachelor's Degree in Public Policy. Follow Johnny Green on Facebook and Twitter. Also, feel free to email any concerns.

Bunny Belinda Balk Miller

Rally together with us as we go to Milwaukee on Aug 2nd. Perfect opportunity to make our presence known to Walker and the media. All are welcome to join us. Bus tickets are $25.00. Limited seating first come first serve. I’ll be there at 10am if you want a ticket. MEET AT J.C.PENNY EAST TOWNE MALL PARKING LOT IN MADISON WISCONSIN AT 11 AM. BUS LEAVES AT 11:15 SHARP.

If you want rights, assert them. Declaration of Rights of Cannabis Users

Tyler Dirden

WASTING OUR MONEY!

Matthew Cunningham

As their inevitable redundancy of more 60% Looms on. Ninteen states and DC are moving forward more state are coming abourd on Medical. The most important will be Florida the dead line of 700,000 signatures in now begining and any that can should go to.

Looks to me like they wasted a big bunch of my hard earned tax dollars going after sick peoples medicine like that . I cannot support such this especially in a state where it is legal. My vote is to allow our sick any help we can, not work against them. I will be watching who I vote for in the future you can bet. I will never vote for this attitude toward our sick people.

UDEM

Question…Corporations (dispensaries) are considered to be a “Live Entity”. If this is the case, shouldn’t it be protected under “The Bill of Right?”

jayne

How can they raid the places if they legal to exist

Chip Dooley

because it’s not legal under federal law and federal law trumps all other laws

A Critic

Technically constitutional law trumps federal law…but no one knows or cares to enforce constitutional law.

yyaya

then there is God’s law and Nature’s law..both neck and neck near the top but the king will always be Murphy’s law

Chip Dooley

Your right but I was just talking about state and feds. what does it say on pot?

tennesseetuxedo59

federal law made slavery legal too legal doesnt make it right those who blindly follow bad laws (Chip) deserve their karma

Chip Dooley

agree, just stating a fact, did not say it made since

tennesseetuxedo59

others who hate pot say the same thingthats why i said that . i appreciate your answer

tee

we must stand together now more than ever. you can’t change stupid but you can vote it out!!!!! free the south!!

Pat Cowdin

The important word in the headline is “offensive.” While they were certainly offensive (as in disgusting), I think they were actually playing defense, in the sense that the DEA and some Federal Prosecutors are fighting to retain their twisted view of reality and, of course, their jobs.

Jerbear

I think the biggest thing is not spread more hate how can we change this and show that medical pot heals and is so much better then the alturnintive painkillers drugs ect… What can we do to say this is enough this boils down to really who is signing the papers to let them batter the name of a plant that is voted by the people to be legal/ legal for medical use. To much hate is in this lets be the change and truly can Someone post what we can do to stop this. It’s time for this big grey Curtian to lift and it be white and black or a law or not please it’s time for people elected to stand up for the voters that vote for them. Truly we as voters need to be calling are elcted officials and tell them how we fell with peace and if enough of us continue to call each day an impact will happen but peaceful. People are just trying to do there jobs rather despesancarys or dea ect but the person calling the shots making the orders needs to hear the voice of who hires them he tax payers us. Truly this is really not doing anyone good by hurting tax payers and people who just want there right to us medicine. What legislative or congress man or woman have the go ahead and supports this. Don’t vote for them and get as many people voting to make a stance! Through the voting system and not let these people be reelcted. Sorry the typos

tee

the republicans control the south, we write the gov but they are in the pharmaceutical pocket. we have no one to help us. the only way to stop them is to stop the money pharmaceutical is dishing out.{hopeless} when it time to vote we must get them out! free the south!!!!

Billy Bob Merkowitz

Would you PLEASE stop blaming everything you don’t like on Republicans? As a 61 year old Republican, I’d like to humbly point out that I’ve met an equal number of Democrats who are severely retarded when it comes to Marijuana and it’s health benefits. President Obama could, with the stroke of a pen, remove Marijuana from the DEA’s Schedule 1 of the Controlled Substances Act. He has the power, and the authority to do so without any input from Congress or the Senate. He has the power and authority to direct the Attorney General to tell the DEA to stop raiding Medical Marijuana Dispensaries. But he doesn’t…. And he is most definitely NOT a Republican. You can NOT blame this on Republicans, when the President of The United States, A Democrat, has the power and authority to stop this madness all by himself, yet refuses to do so.

Billy Bob Merkowitz

Would you PLEASE stop blaming everything you don’t like on Republicans? As a 61 year old Republican, I’d like to humbly point out that I’ve met an equal number of Democrats who are severely retarded when it comes to Marijuana and it’s health benefits. President Obama could, with the stroke of a pen, remove Marijuana from the DEA’s Schedule 1 of the Controlled Substances Act. He has the power, and the authority to do so without any input from Congress or the Senate. He has the power and authority to direct the Attorney General to tell the DEA to stop raiding Medical Marijuana Dispensaries. But he doesn’t…. And he is most definitely NOT a Republican. You can NOT blame this on Republicans, when the President of The United States, A Democrat, has the power and authority to stop this madness all by himself, yet refuses to do so.

firetheliberals

The feds act like terrorists raiding the villages from mountain outposts. All Seattle MMJ patients, spend a little extra this month, particularly if your raided dispensary is still open.

Meric Ackerman

The states with legal marijuana programs in place are going to have to start deploying their National Guard to protect their tax assets from the DEA.